Gay scores 26 to power Kings past Rockets 106-91

AP, SACRAMENTO, California

Tue, Dec 17, 2013 - Page 20

Rudy Gay scored 26 points in his first home game since coming over in a trade from Toronto to lead the Sacramento Kings past the Houston Rockets 106-91 on Sunday.

Gay added five rebounds and four assists. He finished 10-for-20 shooting in a dazzling home debut for the Kings, who had lost eight of their past 10 games.

DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaiah Thomas added 19 points and eight assists to help Sacramento hold on to the lead for most of the final three quarters.

James Harden twisted his left ankle early in the third quarter, but finished with 25 points, while Dwight Howard had 13 points and 10 rebounds as he battled foul trouble in a disappointing end to Houston’s three-game road trip. The Rockets lost at Portland on Thursday and won at Golden State on Friday.

Portland’s Damian Lillard hit a spinning fadeaway shot with one-tenth of a second left in overtime to lift the Trail Blazers over the Detroit Pistons 111-109.

Lillard was guarded well by Rodney Stuckey as he tried to drive to the basket, but he was able to hit a tough fadeaway from about 8 feet. Detroit could not get off a shot before the buzzer.